Cap With Suction Unit For Cup

ABSTRACT

A cap with a suction unit includes a cap having a semi-spherical recess defined in a top thereof and communicating with an outlet defined through an inner end of the semi-spherical recess. A first air hole is defined through an inner periphery of the semi-spherical recess. A suction member has a spherical base, which is rotatably engaged with the semi-spherical recess, and a tube extends from the spherical base. A passage is defined through the spherical base and the tube. A second air hole is defined through the spherical base. The passage and the second air hole are respectively in communication with the outlet and the first hole when the suction member is pivoted to a first position, and the passage and the second air hole are respectively not in communication with the outlet and the air hole when the suction member is pivoted to a second position.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a cap with a suction unit for a cup, and the suction unit is suitable to suck particulate food in the beverage.

2. The Prior Arts

A conventional beverage cup shown in FIGS. 1-3 generally includes a cap A, a suction member B and a cup C, in which the cap A includes a recess A1 and an elongate groove A3 defined in a top of the cap A, and the elongate groove A3 communicates with the recess A1. An outlet A5 is defined through the cap A and located in the recess A1, and two notches A2 are defined in two insides of the recess A1. An air hole A4 is defined through the cap A and located in the elongate groove A3. The suction member B includes a base B1 and two pivots B2 which are engaged with the two notches A2. A passage B4 is defined axially through the suction member B and a protrusion B3 extends from an outer periphery of the suction member B.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the suction member B is pivoted away from the cap A, the passage B4 communicates with the outlet A5 and the protrusion B3 is disengaged from the air hole A4 so that the user can suck the beverage from the cup C. As shown in FIG. 3, when the suction member B is pivoted downward and engaged with the elongate groove A3, the air hole A4 is sealed by the protrusion B3 and the outlet A5 is sealed by the base B1 of the suction member B, such that the beverage does not spill from the cap A.

However, due to the curvature of the base B1 of the suction member B, the outlet A5 in the flat surface of the recess A1 is not well sealed. This restricts the size of the outlet A5, and pulps or particulate food in the beverage are difficult to be sucked via the suction member B.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A primary objective of the present invention is to provide a cap with a suction unit for a cup, and the suction unit allows the user to suck particulate food in the cup. Besides, the suction unit resolves the shortcoming of the conventional suction unit that the dust might contaminate the beverage via the hole in the cap.

The solution of the present invention is to provide a suction member with a spherical base which is rotatably engaged with a semi-spherical recess in the cap so that the outlet in the cap can be completely sealed by the base, and furthermore a passage defined through the suction member can be made large enough to suck particulate food in the beverage.

The suction unit of the present invention also prevents dust from entering the cup by arranging air holes in the semi-spherical recess.

According to the present invention, a cap with a suction unit includes a cap having a semi-spherical recess defined in a top thereof and an outlet defined through an inner end of the semi-spherical recess. At least one first air hole is defined through an inner periphery of the semi-spherical recess. A suction member has a spherical base which is rotatably engaged with the semi-spherical recess, and a tube extends from the spherical base. A passage is defined through the spherical base and the tube, and at least one second air hole is defined through the spherical base. The passage and the second air hole are respectively in communication with the outlet and the first air hole when the suction member is pivoted to a first position, such that the user can suck the beverage in the cup. The passage and the second air hole are respectively not in communication with the outlet and the first air hole when the suction member is pivoted to a second position.

Two flanges extend from the top of the cap and an opening defined by the semi-spherical recess is located between the two flanges. Each flange includes an inner surface which has the same curvature as the semi-spherical recess. The suction member is then restricted to be pivoted in upward and downward directions.

An elongate groove is defined in the top of the cap and the tube of the suction member is removably engaged with the groove when the suction member is located in the second position.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view to show a conventional suction member and cap;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view to show that the conventional suction member is pivoted away from the cap;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view to show that the conventional suction member is pivoted toward the cap;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view to show a cap with a suction unit for a cup in accordance with the present invention, a straw and a cup;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view to show that the cap with the suction unit of the present invention is mounted to the cup, and a suction member is at the first position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing that the cap with the suction unit of the present invention is mounted to the cup, and the suction member is at the second position;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. 5;

FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 6; and

FIG. 9 shows that two flanges restrict the suction member to pivot in upward and downward directions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

With reference to the drawings and in particular to FIG. 4, a cap with a suction unit for a cup in accordance with the present invention, comprises a cap 1 having a semi-spherical recess 11 defined in a top thereof, and an outlet 15 is defined through an inner end of the semi-spherical recess 11. At least one first air hole 13 is defined through the cap 1 and an inner periphery of the semi-spherical recess 11. Preferably, the at least one through hole 13 is defined in a lateral surface of the semi-spherical recess 11. An opening is defined in the top of the semi-spherical recess 11 and a diameter of the opening is smaller than a diameter of the semi-spherical recess 11. In a preferable embodiment, two flanges 12 extend from the top of the cap 1 and the opening is located between the two flanges 12. Each flange 12 includes an inner surface which has the same curvature as the semi-spherical recess 11. An elongate groove 14 is defined in the top of the cap 1, and the elongate groove 14 communicates with the semi-spherical recess 11.

A suction member 2 includes a spherical base 21 and a tube extends from the base 21. The spherical base 21 is shaped to be rotatably engaged with the semi-spherical recess 11. A passage 22 is defined through the spherical base 21 and the tube. At least one second air hole 23 is defined through the spherical base 21, and preferably, the at least one second air hole 23 is defined in a lateral surface of the spherical base 21.

A tubular extension extends from an underside of the cap 1 and communicates with the outlet 15, and a straw 4 has one end mounted to the tubular extension, the other end is inserted into the cup 3 on which the cap 1 is mounted.

When in use, as shown in FIG. 9, the two flanges 12 restricts the suction member 2 to be pivoted in upward and downward directions. The passage 22 and the at least one second air hole 23 are respectively in communication with the outlet 15 and the at least one first air hole 13 when the suction member 2 is pivoted to a first position as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, such that the user can suck the beverage in the cup 3 via the suction member 2. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 8, the passage 22 and the at least one second air hole 23 are respectively not in communication with the outlet 15 and the at least one first air hole 13 when the suction member 2 is pivoted to a second position. The tube of the suction member 2 is removably engaged with the elongate groove 14 when the suction member 2 is located in the second position.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims. 

1. A cap with a suction unit for a cup, comprising a cap having a semi-spherical recess defined in a top thereof and an outlet defined through an inner end of the semi-spherical recess, at least one first air hole defined through an inner periphery of the semi-spherical recess, an opening defined in the top of the semi-spherical recess and a diameter of the opening being smaller than a diameter of the semi-spherical recess; a suction member having a spherical base and a tube extending from the base, the spherical base being shaped to be rotatably engaged with the semi-spherical recess, a passage defined through the spherical base and the tube, at least one second air hole defined through the spherical base; and the passage and the second air hole of the suction member being respectively in communication with the outlet and the first air hole of the cap when the suction member is pivoted to a first position, the passage and the second air hole being respectively not in communication with the outlet and the second air hole when the suction member is pivoted to a second position.
 2. The cap with the suction unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein two flanges extend from the top of the cap and the opening is located between the two flanges, each flange includes an inner surface which has the same curvature as the semi-spherical recess.
 3. The cap with suction unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first air hole is defined in a lateral surface of the semi-spherical recess, and the second air hole is defined in a lateral surface of the spherical base.
 4. The cap with the suction unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein an elongate groove is defined in the top of the cap and the tube of the suction member is removably engaged with the groove when the suction member is located in the second position.
 5. The cap with the suction unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a tubular extension extends from an underside of the cap and communicates with the outlet, so that the tubular extension is capable of being adapted for mounting with a straw. 